dCS Mosaic app disconnects

dCS Products Feature Requests
1

hi everyone, I use more and more the Mosaic app to navigate across Qobuz and my NAS stored music library. I use Mosaic from a Macbook Pro, and sometimes from the iPhone too.

There are a couple of things i’d like to ask:

Disconnects:
as soon as I switch to another window on my computer, the dCS app disconnects from the Lina X device. It takes 2 to 3 seconds to reconnect, but this is VERY annoying. Is there a manner to change the “timeout” or keep the connection up and running? If this is a bug, can it be fixed ? why does it do that, in the first place ?

Search:
unlike most apps, when i put my cursor in the Search field, to type a new word, I usually double click to “select all” the previously searched text … This allows me to “overwrite” very quickly. Only in Mosaic, the double-clicking in the field does NOT select the text. I have to either press-long Backspace to delete everything, or swipe across the entire text to select it, then delete it. Since everything is written very small … I typically miss selecting the first or the last letter … which is irritating too.
Again, why doesn’t this field behave like any other (in the Mac or Windows world, btw)? can this be fixed / implemented ?

thanks for your feedback
Dan

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2

Dan, over the years there’ve been a number of threads that cover this. What you’re experiencing is a factor of a couple of issues, including Mosaic’s software architecture, but also your home network that your dCS kit is attached to.

I would suggest reading up on some of the previous threads on the subject, and then perhaps revise/update your ask.

Maybe start with the thread below, but there are others, usually related to “Mosaic” and “Lost Connection”, just search.

3

Thanks @Anupc
I have read it all now.
Semi satisfying answers… the bottomlîe remains that my previous DAC app (5times cheaper than dCS) worked perfectly and never disconnected. I thad other flaws but not this one :winking_face_with_tongue:
The other conclusion is dCS is not trying to rethink the architecture or find solutions.

We all know hw designers are not sw experts … but in a world of AI assisted vibe coding, we could expect dCS to take the Mosaic app to its next level (UI/UX included), at a minimal cost…

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4

While I don’t disagree with your sentiment in general, since that particular thread I linked to (which was 4 years old), dCS have made significant improvements to Mosaic which have considerably improved this particular issue.

For example, Mosaic no longer go[es] through the full device discovery process every single time that “lost connection” occurs and instead relies on cached MAC address of the dCS from the most recent full discovery (which could be hours before), thus dramatically reducing the time involved to no more than a split-second occurrence, certainly not enough to be annoying.

If that’s not what you’re experiencing, then there’s likely some other factor going on, likely associated with your home network, that’s causing a problem.

5

The reason for this post is that it is not split seconds and it is annoying.
I go from an ios or macOS device to the router wifi, to the switch, to the NAS…. So I do relate to the statement that, the more hops on the network, the slower Mosaic reconnects.
There is nothing I can do to my network, it is a pretty classic setup.

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6

ditto. same deal here.

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7

And your Rossini is connected to that same Switch that your NAS is connected to? If I may ask, what are the brands and models of your WiFi AP and that Ethernet Switch?

8

Definitely not split second. It’s more like 2-3 seconds.

Also annoying is Mosaic loses where it was. If I’m in Tidal->Genres->Jazz->Album and close my iPad, after about 30 minutes, I come back and it’s back to the Home Screen where you select what input you want. You have to drill all the way down again. :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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9

me too, and i thought i was my fault. guess not, apparently it’s just not a priority so ignore the gaslighting about your ineptitude with network switches.

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10

i use a Lina X not a Rossini. It is connected to a Silent Angel Bonn switch, the same that goes to my wifi router and my NAS.

11

Ok, that looks pretty benign, doesn’t explain why your Mosaic App experience should be worse than anyone else :thinking: (albeit, personally, I wouldn’t voluntarily choose to use a PRC Ethernet Switch, but that’s a different story).

What’s your WiFi AP brand/model if I may ask?

By the way, if you didn’t know, the Networking stage within Lina/X is exactly the same hardware/software-stack as on the Vivaldi/Rossini/Bartók.

12

hi Anup, that is interesting! good point on the chinese switch haha. What alternative do you recommend in a similar price point?
the WIFI router is from my ISP, the internet box if you prefer. kind of “no brand” … I suspect it’s a piece of crap.
Since i have plugged Bartok, i find the waiting time even longer than before and the disconnects def more frequent, than Lina’s…
A friend who upgraded from Bartok to Rossini, reports the same increase in problem.
The more you spend, the more you get the problem haha !

13

It’s possible the WiFi Router is where the problem is, but without knowing exact details, I’d just be guessing.

From a networking standpoint, the “ultimate” way to minimize Mosaic’s “disconnect” duration is to have the dCS Ethernet port connected directly to your WiFi AP’s spare Ethernet port. While that may not be practical, it might be useful as a test to validate whether anything else is going wrong. So, maybe temporarily connect your Lina X to a spare Ethernet port on the WiFi AP and see how the Mosaic User Experience changes?

The alternative is as in your setup to have the WiFi AP and dCS connected to the same Ethernet Switch, but then specific multicast feature compatibilities between the WiFI AP and Ethernet Switch come into play - the two main multicast protocols involved being mDNS and IGMP.

Your Bonn N8 is an unmanaged totally dumb Switch, so it’s unlikely to be the root cause of the issue (one would hope). It’ll forward all traffic, including multicast blindly everywhere (which is a good thing in this instance).

However your WiFi AP is an unknown. Most users with their Broadband ISP provided multifunction Router/WiFI AP usually turn OFF the WiFi feature on that Broadband Router and install their own WiFi AP separately in bridge mode (so your Broadband Router retains DHCP management and Routing).

If you’re using the Bonn N8, IINM it retails for around $600, which is an absolutely crazy price for an el-cheapo literally $30 Switch. You can do a whole lot better!

If you want to stick with consumer Ethernet Switch models, a Netgear GS308 or GS110 coupled with a proper external linear PSU would out-perform the Bonn N8 (both in reduced noise and Ethernet packet integrity).

If you want to move up to prosumer models, something like the Mikrotik CCS610 (with external Liner PSU) or CCS318, both should be under US$200 retail IINM.

Alternatively for Enterprise-grade models, if you’re not afraid of picking something up from the grey-market (e.g. EBay), you can pick-up a Cisco Catalyst 2960-C Series (non PoE models), or if you’re feeling more adventurous (for even higher reliability and performance), a Juniper EX-2200-C or 2300-C. Both of these can be found for under $200.

The benefit of proper Enterprise-grade Switches is that they’re fully IEC/CISPR/UL/FCC certified, meaning proper Faraday Chamber/Test Lab measurement & certification for proper RFI/EMI shielding - which by the way, none of the “Audiophile Ethernet Switches” mentioned on Audio forums including here on dCS. community, are properly certified, imagine that! :man_facepalming:t2::rofl:.

14

I literally have half a dozen EBay 2960’s of all flavors in storage (currently using a Cisco CBS110) and I am curious to know your take on their internal PS’s - as you appear to recommend an external LPS if possible. Obviously this is not possible with the 2960

15

Hey Gregg, for Switches that use an external PSU brick, it’s best to find a good linear external PSU. More so that it doesn’t spew crap back onto your AC line rather for any issues it might cause with the Ethernet Ports (Ethernet chipsets do require properly regulated and clean power).

Enterprise-Grade Switches with built-in PSUs are fine as they go through proper CE/UL certification. If you haven’t looked inside one of your 2960s, take a look, it’s very robust and super well shielded.

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16

Thanks Anup.
Did you know that entry level NEtgear switches like the GS105, are manufactured in China ? :wink:
I did start with that one , and upgraded to a Silent Angel and noticed an improvement. It is powered by a Forrester1 PSU.

17

There’s a big difference between a Switch being contract manufactured in PRC versus one being designed & built there :laughing:

As for actually hearing a difference, well, let’s just say you should properly blind test yourself (even the addition of a dCS Clock will offers more of a sonic improvement than any “Audiophile Ethernet Switch").

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18

Given the price delta, that is the least i would expect :rofl::rofl: